Xander's Rejected Luna

The Stranger’s Claim

Xander's POV

Her lips pulled away from mine, leaving a void that hit me harder than any battlefield wound. Jasmine's eyes widened, those deep brown pools flickering with confusion as she stepped back, her small hands pressing against my chest like she needed to steady herself. I could feel her pulse racing through her fingertips, matching the thunder in my own veins. Damn, she was beautiful, even in the dim torchlight of the party, her silver-streaked hair tousled from our kiss, cheeks flushed with a mix of embarrassment and that raw heat I knew all too well.

"What... what was that?" she whispered, her voice barely cutting through the distant beat of the music. She glanced around, as if suddenly remembering we weren't alone, though the crowd had thinned out around us, giving us a pocket of shadowed privacy.

I didn't let her go far, my hands lingering on her waist, reluctant to break the contact. Inside, Damien stirred, the demon half of me growling possessively, while Volt, my wolf, paced restlessly, urging me to claim her fully. But I held back. I'd spent years convinced my hybrid blood made me untouchable, a monster doomed to walk alone. No mate for a king like me, cursed by the very power that kept my throne secure. And yet here she was, shattering that belief with one reckless kiss.

"Jasmine," I said, my voice low and rough, tasting her name like it was something sacred. I watched her swallow, her throat working delicately, and it took everything in me not to lean in again. "That was the mate bond. Can't you feel it?"

She blinked, shaking her head slightly, but I saw the spark of recognition in her eyes. "Mate? But... Lucas rejected me. I'm not... I can't be anyone's mate." Her words came out shaky, laced with pain that made my fists clench. Whoever this Lucas was, I'd make him regret hurting her. She deserved better than some weak alpha's cast-off.

I pulled her gently toward the edge of the clearing, away from the prying eyes of the partygoers. The trees loomed around us, their branches casting long shadows that danced in the flickering light. I needed space to explain, to make her see what I already knew in my bones. "Listen to me," I said, cupping her face with one hand, my thumb brushing her cheekbone. She didn't pull away this time, leaning into the touch just a fraction, and that small surrender sent a jolt through me. "I'm not like other wolves. My father was a demon lord, my mother a werewolf queen. Their union made me what I am, strong enough to rule, but I always thought it meant I'd never have this. A true mate. Until you."

Her brows furrowed, and she searched my face, her breath coming in short bursts. "Who are you, really? Xander Killian... that name sounds familiar, like something from the old stories the elders tell."

I nodded, dropping my hand but staying close, my body angled to shield her from the cool night breeze. "I'm the Werewolf King. Ruler of the hidden kingdom beyond these forests. Feared by most, respected by the rest." I let out a bitter chuckle, thinking of the battles I'd won, the enemies I'd crushed under my heel. "But none of that prepared me for you crashing into my life like this."

She stared at me, her lips parting in surprise. "The King? Here, at a pack party?" She glanced back toward the lights and laughter, as if expecting guards or a crown to materialize. Her hand trembled as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a nervous gesture that made her seem even more fragile. But there was fire in her eyes, a strength simmering beneath the surface. I could sense it, like a storm building.

"I don't come to these often," I admitted, leaning against a nearby tree trunk, crossing my arms to keep from reaching for her again. "But Lias dragged me out tonight. Said I needed to unwind after the last skirmish with the border packs." I thought of my beta, probably lurking nearby, his watchful eyes on us even now. He was loyal to a fault, but wary of anything that could distract me from my duties.

Jasmine shifted her weight, her dress whispering against her legs. "And the mate thing... how do you know? My wolf, she's been quiet for so long. I couldn't even shift until recently." Her voice dropped, vulnerability creeping in, and it twisted something in my chest. I wanted to erase that doubt, to show her the power she held.

"Because every part of me recognizes you," I said, stepping closer, my voice dropping to a murmur. "Damien, the demon in me, wants to possess you. Volt wants to run with you under the moon. And me? I just want to protect you from whatever's hurt you." I reached out, tracing a finger along her arm, feeling the goosebumps rise under my touch. She shivered, but not from fear. No, this was the bond pulling us together, undeniable.

She met my gaze, her confusion softening into something warmer. "Protect me? From what? My life's already a mess. Enslaved by my stepfamily, rejected by my alpha..." She trailed off, biting her lip, and I caught the glint of tears she blinked away.

"From everything," I vowed, my tone fierce. "No one touches what's mine." The words slipped out before I could stop them, possessive and raw. She raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at her lips, and damn if that didn't make my heart stutter.

"Yours? We just met," she teased, but there was curiosity there, a spark that encouraged me.

I grinned, feeling lighter than I had in years. "Fate doesn't care about timelines. But if you need convincing..." I leaned in, my lips brushing her ear, whispering, "Let me show you."

Before she could respond, a rustle in the bushes snapped my attention. My senses sharpened, Volt growling low in my mind. Rogues. I could smell their feral stench, the wild tang of unclaimed wolves circling closer. Jasmine tensed beside me, her hand gripping my arm. "What is it?" she asked, her voice hushed.

"Stay behind me," I ordered, pushing her gently back as I stepped forward. Three shadows emerged from the trees, their eyes glowing yellow in the dark, lips curled in snarls. The leader, a scarred brute with matted fur peeking through his torn shirt, lunged first, claws extended.

I didn't hesitate. Damien surged to the surface, my eyes flashing red as demonic energy coursed through me. I caught the rogue mid-air, my hand closing around his throat like a vice. With a twist, I slammed him into the ground, the impact cracking the earth. He gasped, claws scraping at my arm, but I held firm, my strength amplified by the hybrid blood that made me unstoppable.

The other two charged, one aiming for my side, the other circling toward Jasmine. Panic flared in her eyes, but she didn't scream, just backed up, her hands raised as if ready to fight. Pride swelled in me, but there was no time for that. I released the leader and spun, kicking the flank-attacker square in the chest. He flew back, crashing into a tree with a sickening thud, bones crunching.

"Jasmine, run!" I shouted, but she shook her head, stubborn as hell.

"I'm not leaving you!" she yelled back, her voice steady despite the fear I could scent on her.

The third rogue leaped at her, and rage blinded me. I blurred forward, faster than any pure wolf could move, intercepting him. My fist connected with his jaw, demonic fire igniting along my knuckles, searing his fur. He howled, twisting away, but I followed up with a s***h of my own claws, drawing blood across his torso. He crumpled, whimpering, and I turned to finish the leader, who was staggering to his feet.

"Why are you here?" I demanded, grabbing him by the collar, lifting him off the ground. His eyes darted wildly, blood trickling from his mouth.

"She's... marked for death," he rasped, glancing at Jasmine. "The alpha wants her gone."

Lucas. It had to be. My grip tightened, and he choked out a laugh. "You can't protect her forever, hybrid freak."

I snarled, slamming my forehead into his, dazing him before tossing him aside like trash. The rogues scattered, limping into the shadows, but I knew this wasn't over. Jasmine rushed to my side, her hands checking me for wounds, her touch frantic. "Are you okay?" she asked, breathless, her eyes wide with awe and lingering fear.

I pulled her into my arms, holding her close, her body fitting perfectly against mine. "I'm fine. But you... we need to get you out of here." My mind raced, piecing together the threat. If Lucas sent them, war was brewing.

From the treeline, Lias emerged, his broad frame tense, sword drawn. "Xander, we have company. More rogues inbound." His eyes flicked to Jasmine, wary but accepting. "And she's drawing them like a beacon."

Jasmine stiffened in my embrace, and I felt her wolf stir, responding to the danger. But as howls echoed in the distance, closer now, I realized we were surrounded.